What does “elopement” mean, and why is it dangerous for nursing home residents?

We often think of elopement as involving a quick trip to Las Vegas or City Hall. However, if you get a call from your parent’s nursing home telling you that your parent has eloped, then it is unlikely that the nursing home staff means that your loved one went off to get married. You do not have a new stepparent. Instead, you have a problem.

Here’s What the Nursing Home Staff Means

“Elopement” has a second meaning. In addition to a quick marriage, it can also mean leaving a safe place, and that is likely what nursing home staff mean when they tell you that your parent eloped. They are telling you that your parent left the nursing home unattended.

Nursing Home Elopements Can Have Tragic Consequences

Your loved one lived in a nursing home precisely because it was a safe place. When she left the nursing home unattended and without the knowledge of nursing home staff. she may have been lost or confused, she may have been unprepared for the weather, and she may have gotten hurt. In the end, she may have died because of the lack of supervision and your family may be left mourning her tragic loss.

Your loved one did not have to die this way. If you receive news of a nursing home elopement and a resulting death, then it is important to find out more about your rights and to take actions to protect your family and other nursing home residents. Please browse our related articles on this website and start a live chat with us today to learn more.